Regarding the influence on vineyards or vineyards see under waters.
The first vineyards in Europe were established in the first millennium of the Common Era, primarily along rivers or on their often terraced slopes. These were also very important for the wine trade in ancient times. The Romans used two main routes for transporting wine in amphorae. One ran along the Garonne from the south of France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region to Toulouse and on to Bordeaux as far as the Atlantic, the other from Arles on the Mediterranean upstream along the Rhône to Lyon, from there along the tributary Saône and overland to the Moselle as far as the Rhine and along this to the North Sea. Water bodies such as rivers, seas and lakes have a positive effect on viticulture in several respects and thus contribute to the so-called viticultural suitability (suitability of an area for viticulture).
As honorary chairman of the Domäne Wachau, it is the easiest and quickest way for me to access the wein.plus encyclopaedia when I have questions. The certainty of receiving well-founded and up-to-date information here makes it an indispensable guide.
Hans-Georg Schwarz
Ehrenobmann der Domäne Wachau (Wachau)